Bills Rumblings Bring Concerning News for Josh Allen

The Buffalo Bills have a strong quarterback in Josh Allen, who for the 2025-26 season notched 3,668 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions, according to NFL research, with a 69.3 percent completion rate. But, if they ever want to get to the big game, they’ll have to help Allen out more.

Even with Allen’s 579 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, the Buffalo Bills weren’t able to make it to the Super Bowl for the 2025-26 season. Now, they have a new head coach in Joe Brady, who was promoted from offensive coordinator to replace Sean McDermott.

But, early projections for the 2026 NFL draft aren’t showing much help for Allen and his offensive line. The 2026 NFL draft is slated for Thursday, April 23, to Saturday, April 25, in Pittsburgh, so let’s get into the expert opinions about what the event will mean for the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo Bills NFL Draft Projections Show a Trend

Sure, it would be nice to have a stronger defense for the Bills, but Allen could use fresh talent on offensive. Now, NFL analysts and experts are weighing on on the moves they believe the Bills will make, and none of them directly help Allen.

In a Tuesday, March 24 feature for ESPN, Field Yates says he believes the team will have a No. 34 pick via Arizona for linebacker CJ Allen of Georgia. “The Bills have a significant need at inside linebacker and still get to address it despite moving back eight spots,” he states in the piece. “Allen is the second-best linebacker in my rankings; he’s a physical player with good range and ability to spot drop into coverage. He added 3.5 sacks in 2025, too.”

On Wednesday, March 25, Garrett Podell of CBS Sports game his projections, and he also went with defensive talent for the Bills. He has the team using its No. 26 pick to get Cashius Howell out of Texas A&M. “Doesn’t 2023 feel like a lifetime ago? That’s the last time the Bills had a player record double-digit sacks in a season, when Leonard Floyd finished with 10.5,” he notes in the piece. “Howell, the 2025 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, racked up 11.5 sacks for the Aggies, the most by a Texas A&M player since Myles Garrett had 12.5 in 2015.”

One Player is Emerging From the NFL Draft for the Buffalo Bills

Finally, in a Tuesday, March 24, feature for the NFL’s official website, Bucky Brooks also has the Bills going with a defensive player in the draft. As with Yates, he thinks Allen will be a Bills player. “Adding a violent, downhill linebacker should help the Bills shore up their leaky run defense,” he says. “Allen’s instincts, awareness and thump will set the tone for Buffalo’s revamped defensive lineup.”

Of course, all of them have the Las Vegas Raiders using their No. 1 pick for Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana, the star quarterback. “With a flurry of free-agent signings upgrading the roster and Maxx Crosby remaining in silver and black,” Brooks states, “Mendoza could spark a quicker-than-expected rise to prominence for the Raiders.”

So, while it’s great to get extra help on defense, none of these picks really help Allen. Hopefully the Buffalo Bills will get him some assistance for the upcoming season.

Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson